Wiring system of electrolyzers for producing aluminum

ABSTRACT

A wiring system of electrolyzers for producing aluminium including cathode bars, each of which is connected to a pair of bars of an anode upright through two packs of flexible aluminium bands, in which case the cross-sectional area of the bar of the anode upright is equal to a half of the cross-sectional area of the cathode bar.

United States Patent 91 Nikiforov et al.

[ WIRING SYSTEM OF ELECTROLYZERS FOR PRODUCING ALUMINUM [76] Inventors: Vladimir Pavlovich Nikiforov,

Moskovsky prospekt, 455, kv. 432; Vasily Ivanovich Nosikov, Moskovsky prospekt, 205, kv. 455; llya Genrikhovich Kil, Gavanskaya ulitsa, 37, kv. 61; Igor Kirillovich Tsybukov, Tikhoretsky prospekt, 9, korpus l0, kv. 54; Alexandr Nikolaevich Smorodinov, Bukharestskaya ulitsa, 31, korpus 3, kv. 55; Anatoly Mikhailovich Tsyplakov, prospekt Kima, 30, kv. 74; Nikolai Pavlovich Budkevich, Belgradskaya ulista, 38, korpus 5, kv. 40; Nikolai Ivanovich Vykhodov, Kirovsky prospekt, 42b kv. 7, all

of Leningrad, USSR.

[22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,363

[52] US. Cl 204/243 R, 204/244, 204/279 I Z I I I I [11] 3,821,101 June 28, 1974 [51] Int. Cl C22d 3/02, BOlk 3/00 [58] Field of Search 204/67, 243 R, 247, 279

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,596 4/1961 Conway 204/243 R X 3,161,579 l2/l964 Henry et al. 204/243 R 3,245,898 4/1966 Wunderli 204/243 R X 3,607,685 9/1971 Johnson 204/243 R X Primary Examiner-Howard S. Williams Assistant Examiner-D. R. Valentine Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric H. Waters [5 7] ABSTRACT A wiring system of electrolyzers for producing aluminium including cathode bars, each of which is connected to a pair of bars of an anode upright through two packs of flexible aluminium bands, in which case the cross-sectional area of the bar of the anode upright is equal to a half of the cross-sectional area of the cathode bar.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure The present invention relates to electrolytic production of metals and, more particularly, the invention relates to wiring systems of electrolyzers for production of aluminium.

Known in the art is a wiring system of electrolyzers for producing aluminium comprising cathode bars assembled into packs and connected through aluminium bands (also assembled in packs) to the bars of anode uprights connected with the bars of anode packs.

In this case each bar of the cathode pack is connected to one bar of the anode upright through a single pack of flexible aluminium bands.

As a result, the amount of bars in the cathode pack is equal to the amount of packs of flexible aluminium bands and is also equal to the amount of bars in the anode upright. In this case the bars of the cathode pack, the packs of flexible aluminium bands and the bars of the anode upright have the same cross-sectional area.

The packs of cathode bars having a rectangular cross section are laid on their narrow face or rib so that the wide side of the bar faces the lateral wall of the electrolyzer and is disposed in a longitudinal direction relative to the electrolyzersarranged in rows, while the bars of the anode uprights are either inclined or positioned vertically, and their narrow side (rib) face the butt end of the electrolyzer in the gap between two adjacent electrolyzers of one row. Each pack of flexible aluminium bands is welded by one end to the narrow rib of the cathode bar (usually from above) and by the other end to the bar of the anode upright.

An increase in production of aluminium is closely connected with a corresponding increase in the output capacity of the electrolyzer, while an increase inthe input power of the electrolyzer requires a corresponding increase in the cross sectional area of the currentcarrying bars;

The increase in the cross section of the bars of the anode upright leads to an increase in the distance between the electrodes, additional consumption of the cathode bars, and increase in the area occupied by the shop.

An increase in the height of the bars requires a larger distance between the cathode casing at the locations of the anode uprights, while the use of current-carrying bars having a reduced cross section results in an increase in the number of bars and in an increase in the width of the electrolysis shop.

Moreover, the'presence of metallic grates of the' overhead cover of the bar passages and apertures limits the laying of the bars and the packs of flexible aluminium bands connecting the cathode and anode bars.

The necessity in preserving a required current density without increasing the loss of electric power also presents difficulties.

The basic object of the invention is to provide a wiring system of an electrolyzer for producing aluminium which would make it possible to reduce the length of the shop accommodating the electrolyzers.

Another important object of the invention is to reduce the consumption of aluminium for making a wiring for electrolyzers.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce the loss of electric power in said wiring.

These and other objects are attained by providing a wiring system for electrolyzers producing aluminium, comprising cathode bars mounted on their ribs, assembled into packs and connected through packs of flexible aluminium bands to the bars of the anode uprights connected with the anode bars, in which, according to the invention, each cathode bar is connected to a pair of bars of the anode upright by means of a pair of packs of flexible aluminium bands, the cross-sectional area of each bar of the anode upright constituting a half of the cross-sectional area of the cathode bar.

Such making of the wiring system of electrolyzers allows their efiiciency be increased without increasing the dimensions of the shop accommodating the electrolyzers.

It is expedient that the side faces, or ribs, of each cathode bar be connected to a pair of bars of the anode upright through packs of flexible aluminium bands so that they form a loopv with each cathode bar.

This allows one to obtain dependable and convenient connection of the cathode bars with the bars of the anode uprights.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a general view of the wiring system according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING A schematic diagram of the wiring arrangement of the cathode bars, anode uprights, anode'bars and flexible aluminum bands, in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wiring system of electrolyzers for producing aluminium comprises aluminium cathode bars 1, 2, 3 and 4 mounted on their ribs and assembled into a pack laid along the electrolyzers (not shown) in the aperture for bars. The packs 5-12 of flexible aluminium bands are welded in pairs to each cathode bar I-4. The end of one pack 5 of flexible aluminium bands' is preferably welded to the upper side rib of the cathode bar I, while the end of the second pack 6 of flexible aluminium bandsis preferably welded to the lower side rib of the cathode bar 1. A pair of packs 5 and 6 forms a loop with a cathode bar 1. The other pairs of packs of flexible aluminium bands form similar loops with the cathode bars 2, 3 and 4. Each pack, for example 5, of flexible aluminium bars through its one end is welded to the cathode bar, for example I, and through its other end is welded to the bar 13 of the anode upright.

The cross-sectional area of each bar 13-20 of the anode upright is equal to a half of the cross-sectional area of the cathode bar l-4 to which it is connected.

The bars 13-20 of the anode upright are mounted at an angle of to the cathode bars 1-4 and are located in the gap between the adjacent electrolyzers of the same row.

Such making and connection of the bars of the anode uprights with the cathode bars makeit possible to use for this purpose narrow bars (their width is twice as less as that of conventional bars of this type) without changing the current density therein. In this case the bars are disposed with their wide faces (the height of the bar) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electrolyzer. Due to the reduction in height of the bars of the anode uprights the electrolyzers can be disposed at a shorter distance from one another in a longitudinal direction (the row is shortened), therefore, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the electrolyzes and to arrange them in a shop having smaller overall dimensions. Since the length of the row of electrolyzers is reduced, it is possible to reduce the consumption of aluminium for making these bars and to reduce the consumption of electric power as well.

We claim: I

l. A wiring system for aluminum producing electrolyzers comprising in combination: a plurality of cathode bars for drawing current from the cathode of the electrolyzers, said cathode bars being shaped as rectangular parallel-pipeds and disposed so that the plane formed by the large and small sides of said parallelpipeds coincides with the horizontal plane; flexible aluminum bands connected to said cathode bars and passing current therefrom to the uprights of the electrolyzer next in sequence; bars of anode uprights connected to said flexible bands to carry current to said electrolyzer next in sequence, the cross section of each of said bars of anode uprights being half the cross section of each of said cathode bars; and anode bars connected to said bars of anode uprights and carrying current to anode terminals of said electrolyzer next in sequence, said bars of anode uprights carrying current to the anode bars of said electrolyzer next in sequence.

2. A wiring system for aluminum producing electrolyzers as claimed in claim I, wherein said bars of anode uprights are connected to said horizontal plane of said cathode bars by said flexible bands so that said flexible bands form loops with said cathode bars. 

1. A wiring system for aluminum producing electrolyzers comprising in combination: a plurality of cathode bars for drawing current from the cathode of the electrolyzers, said cathode bars being shaped as rectangular parallel-pipeds and disposed so that the plane formed by the large and small sides of said parallel-pipeds coincides with the horizontal plane; flexible aluminum bands connected to said cathode bars and passing current therefrom to the uprights of the electrolyzer next in sequence; bars of anode uprights connected to said flexible bands to carry current to said electrolyzer next in sequence, the cross section of each of said bars of anode uprights being half the cross section of each of said cathode bars; and anode bars connected to said bars of anode uprights and carrying current to anode terminals of said electrolyzer next in sequence, said bars of anode uprights carrying current to the anode bars of said electrolyzer next in sequence.
 2. A wiring system for aluminum producing electrolyzers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bars of anode uprights are connected to said horizontal plane of said cathode bars by said flexible bands so that said flexible bands form loops with said cathode bars. 